“You are our very first phone-in applicant,” said Chairman Philip Roeder to Jeffrey DiLucca, as he spoke on his cell phone at the Bethlehem Historic Conservation Commission’s March 16 meeting held in the Rotunda.

DiLucca, representing 29 E. Third St. location of Bank of America, was granted a certificate of appropriateness for exterior lighting after literally phoning in his proposal to the commissioners.

DiLucca’s employer, Project Expediters Consulting Group in Manalapan, N.J., had imposed a travel ban on employees in an effort to help contain the spread of COVID-19. He was joined on his end of the call by Coral Silsbe, president of the consulting firm.

Having the application and supporting documents spread out on the table in front of them, Chairman Philip Roeder and a quorum of HCC members were able to navigate through the novel presentation via speakerphone, brought on by the novel coronavirus crisis.

The unanimously approved fixtures include three colonial-style carriage style lights on the front of the building facing E. Third, with two flanking the entrance and one located over a Bank of America placard. Two carriage-style fixtures would be installed along the brick wall on the east side of the bank, facing Adams Street. Other approved lighting includes a modern, low-profile security light to replace the existing one over the front drop box, and two modern, flush-mounted security lights installed underneath the canopy at the side of the structure facing Adams Street. All fixtures have a bronze finish.

The applicants agreed to the board’s stipulation that wiring for the lamps come from inside the building and to remove the existing conduit for the drop box light, which is visible on the façade. All wall lighting is to be installed in mortar joints.

Since these are LED fixtures, DiLucca and Silsbe are to provide Roeder with updated specs to show the lights cast a warm yellowish glow and are no stronger than 3000 on the Kelvin color temperature spectrum. Cutsheets also need to be provided for the brackets for the carriage lights, as well as the recessed lights for under the canopy. Silsbe explained the security lights have to meet banking industry standards.

The circa 1924, two-story brick bank building with a stone front façade is owned by Bank of America.

Roeder presented construction samples for decking and a handrail for board review for “The Nest.” The samples were provided by Bruce Campbell for his ongoing project at 601 E. Fourth St. The commissioners found the look of the Trex composite decking materials “historically appropriate.”

The Bethlehem HCC is charged with the task of determining if new signs or other alterations to a building’s exterior would be an appropriate fit for the neighborhood in one of three designated historic districts. Hearings are regularly scheduled on the third Monday of the month at city hall.

Obtaining a certificate of appropriateness is only a first step for business owners and residents in a designated historic district who wish to make alterations to a building’s exterior. The HCC’s recommendations are later reviewed, then voted on by city council before any project is allowed to proceed.